Sweeper for railroad-tracks



(No Mbdel.)

G. E. FLEMING. SWEBPER FOR RAILROAD TRACKS.

No. 496,049. Patented Apr. 25, 1893.

parts of my invention.

STATES GEORGE E. FLEMING,

OF ELGIN, ILLINOIS.

@ SWEEPER FOR RAILROAD-TRACKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 496,049, dated April 25, 1893.

Application filed October 19. 1392. Serial No. 449,315. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. FLEMING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Elgin, in the county of Kane and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Sweepers for Railroad-Tracks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in means for brushing or sweeping the tracks or rails of railways and more especially of street railways and keeping the same free from snow, sleet, and other obstacles.

I attain the objects of my invention by means of the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which like reference letters and numbers apply to like parts throughout.

Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical sectional view of my invention taken upon the lineX X, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 represents a bottom plan view of my invention. Fig. 3 represents a perspective detail view of certain Fig. 4 represents a detail view of the arm S.

A. represents the body or platform of a portion of the car, with two wheels B. B. upon the axle L journaled in bearings in the plates N. which are connected with the body or framework of the car in the usual manner. The wheels, axles and other connections at the opposite end of the car are not shown but it is to be understood-that the other end of the car may be supported and moved upon a simple pair of wheels; and such wheels and their axles may be provided with the same attachments and construction of means for sweeping the rails that are shown in the drawings, so that the car may be provided with sweepers at each end.

A bar of wood or metal M. extends across the frame work of the carandis rigidly bolted to the frame or body, at each end. Bolted or otherwise rigidly attached to the cross bar, are two brackets F. angular in shapeand extending forward and downward, and provided with bearings to receive and carry the journals of the shaft H. Upon the shaft H. are rigidly located the two arms S. S each provided at each end with bearings to receive the journals of the shafts I. and J. The jour nals of the shaft I. extend outwardly, beyond the arms S. S and are provided at their ends with circular brushes G. G. made of stifi brist-les,wire or other material. The distance between these circular brushes is determined by the distance between the rails of the railroad track, and they are to be arranged so as to rest upon each rail respectively.

It will be seen that the two arms S. S and the axles I. and J. constitute a frame capable of rocking upon the journals of the shaft H. Also that instead of employing a shaft H. the two arms S. S may be provided rigidly with trunnions or journals extending outwardly into the bearings in the brackets F. upon which said frame can rock, though I prefer the shaft H. as giving strength and stability to the structure. Axles I. and J. are provided with sprocket wheels respectively K. and D. and a sprocket chain E. By this means and the relative sizes of these sprocket wheels the number of revolutions of the brushes G. as compared with the revolutions of the wheels B. can be regulated and determined. The axle or journal L. is provided with a cogwheel 0. rigidly attached thereto. The axle or journal J. is also provided with a cog-wheel D capable of meshing with the cog-wheel C. By this means when the cog-wheel O. and D engage, the circular brushes G. will have a revolving motion in the opposite direction from that of the wheels B. and by the rocking motion of the frame constituted by the side bars S. S and the axles or shafts I. and J. the cog-wheel D can be engaged with or disengaged from the cog-wheel C. Fig. 4 illustrates the form and construction of the side bars S. and S and they are such that when by means of the rocking of said frame, the cog-wheel D engages with the cog-wheel O. the circular brushes G. will be thrown down upon the rails and sweep them. The means for rocking said frame and raising and lowering the brushes is as follows: A lever 2. pivotally attached at 3. to the bracket F. and having its lower extremity cam shaped and truncate, so as to rest upon and lock the arm S. as shown by the dotted lines, is pivotally connected at 1. with a rod R. which is pivotally connected at the other end with the oscillating crank arm Q rigidly attached at one end to the shaft or journal q to which at the other end is rigidly attached the crank arm Q said shaft or journal q being held in a bearing in the bracket P. attached to the frame or body of the car. The crank arm Q. is pivotally connected with the lever O. which extends upwardly through an opening in the bed of the car, and by means of which the lever 2. and its attachments are operated. At its lower cam shaped extremity, the lever 2. is provided with an angle piece which is pivotally attached to lever 2 at 6, Fig. 3.; the lever arm 5. of this angle piece extending beneath the rearward arm of the side bar S. and operating as a lock.

Attached to the rear ends of the side bars S. S are springsT. the upper ends of which are connected with brackets F which are rigidly bolted upon the brackets F. or upon the cross bar M. Instead of employing the brackets F. it is evident the upper ends of the springs T. may be attached to the frame or body of the car, or otherwise attached. I do not limit myself to the form of springs shown, as it is evident many other forms and arrangements may be used.

The operation of my invention is evident. Its object is to provide two revolving brushes resting respectively upon the rails of the track, receiving their motion from the revolutions of the car wheels andcapable of being lowered upon and lifted from the rails as desired. Fig. 1 shows the invention in operation with the brushes upon the rails, and retained there, by the resiliency of the springs T. and the locking angular piece 4. It is evident that it is not necessary to employ both of these means (the springs and the angle piece) for forcing and holding the brushes upon the rails as either alone will accomplish the result, but I prefer to use both.

When it is desired to raise the brushes from the rails the trainman or operator forces the lever O. downward and by means of the crank arms Q and Q the rod R. is retracted as shown by dotted lines; the lowercam shaped extremity of the lever 2 is forced downward and backward upon the rear arm of the side bar S. rocking the frame and lifting the brushes, until the truncate face of the lower extremity of lever 2. rests squarely upon the side bar S. as shown in the dotted lines, and locks in that position. The rocking of the frame disengages the gearing O. and D. and the brushes cease to revolve. When itis desired to lower the brushes, the lever O. is then lifted, the lever 2 is reversed and its lower extremity unlocks; the angle piece 4 or the springs T. separately or both together, rock the frame lowering the brushes on to the rails, and the angle piece 4. again locks and holds the frame in position.

It is evident that the brushes will gradually wear and be reduced in diameter until worn out, and that in consequence the extent of the rocking of the frame should be regulated to that limit. This I have done by means of set screws 7. passing through the cross bar M. and with whose ends the rear of the side bars S. S engage in their upward throw. By extending these set screws the throw or rocking of the frame in one direction can be regulated to correspond with the diminishing size of the brushes.

It is evident that there may be many variations and changes in the construction of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof. Thusinstead of employing sprocket wheels and a sprocket chain to communicate motion between the axles I. and J. gearing, friction pulleys and belts and other means may be employed. HenceI do not limit myself to the precise details of construction and arrangement herein shown.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

1. In a car, the combination of a car axle supported upon wheels and provided with a gear wheel; with a frame constructed with two sidebars provided with exterior tru unions or journals held in opposite hearings in the frame or body of said car, of an axle journaled in bearings in said sidebars, and provided with a sprocket wheel and carrying rigidly upon the exterior extensions of its journals circular brushes; and of a rear axle jour-- naled in hearings in the opposite ends of said side bars and provided with a sprocket wheel, and a gear wheel capable of meshing with the gear wheel upon the axle of the wheels; a sprocket chain engaging said two sprocket wheels; and means of rocking said frame, so as to raise and lower said brushes and bring said gear wheelsinto and out of engagement; all substantially as shown.

2. In a car the combination of a car truck carrying rigidly upon its axle, a gear wheel, with a frame having, at one end, a revoluble shaft carrying rigidly attached thereto circular brushes, and at the opposite end a revoluble shaft with a gearing rigidly attached thereto and capable of meshing with the gear wheel upon the truck axle: said frame being provided with trunnions or journals, intermediate said two revoluble shafts, held in bearings in the frameor body of the car; means for communicating the revoluble motion of said rear shaft to the front shaft in said frame; and means for rocking said frame upon its said trunnions or journals, whereby the said brushes may be lowered or elevated, and the said two gear wheels maybe engaged when the brushes are lowered, and disengaged when they are elevated; all substantially as shown.

3. In a car the combination of a car truck carrying rigidly upon its axle a gear wheel with a frame capable of being rocked upon trunnions or journals and provided with revo luble brushes and means for revolving them when lowered and ceasing the revolutions when elevated; springs connected at one end with the rear of said frame and at the other with brackets attached to the frame or body of the car; a lever pivotally attached to a bracket connected rigidly with the said frame or body of the car and provided with a cam shaped truncate extremity capable of engaging with one of the side bars of said frame; a rod pivotally connected with the upper arm of said lever; and means for operating said rod back and forth; all substantially as shown.

4. In a car the combination of a car truck having an axle supported on wheels; aframe capable of being rocked upon trunnions or journals held in bearings in the frame or body of the car and provided with revoluble brushes on extensions of an axle in the forward part of said frame; means for communicating motion from the wheels of said truck to said revoluble brushes when said'frame is rocked in one direction; springs attached to the rear end of said frame and with the frame work or body of the car; a lever pivotally attached to abracket or other portion of the frame work or body of the car and provided with a cam shaped truncate extremity capable of engaging with the upper side of one of the side bars of said frame; and also provided with an angle piece capable of engaging with the under side of said side bar; a rod pivotally connected with said lever; and means for operating said rod back and forth; whereby said frame may be rocked and locked and said revolving brushes may be lowered and elevated; all substantially as shown.

5. In a car the combination of a car truck having an axle supported on wheels; a frame capable of being rocked upon trunnions or journals held in bearings in the frame or body of the car and provided with revoluble brushes on extensions of an axle in the forward part of said frame; means for communicating motion from the wheels of said truck to said revoluble brushes when said frame is rocked in one direction; a lever pivotally attaohed to a bracket or other portion of the frame work or body of the car and provided with a cam shaped truncate extremity capable of engaging with the upper side of one of the side bars of said frame; and also providedwith an angle piece capable of engaging with the under side of said bar; a rod pivotally connected with said lever; and means for operating said rod back and forth; whereby said frame maybe rocked and locked and said revolving'brushes may be lowered and elevated; all substantially as shown.

6. In a car the combination of a frame carrying at its opposite extremities respectively, revoluble shafts; one provided with rigidly attached circular brushes, and the other with a gearing capable of meshing with a gearing rigidly attached to the axle of the truck of said car: Said frame also being provided with trunnions or journals located between said revoluble shafts; means for communicating the motion of one of said revoluble shafts to the other; means for rocking said frame; and set screws located in the frame work of said car above the rear extensions of the side bars of said frame whereby the extent or throw of the rocking of said frame may be regulated.

7. In a car the combination of a frame carrying revoluble brushes and capable of being'rocked upon trunnions or journals held in bearings in the frame work or body of said car; the springs T. connected with the rear end of said frame and the brackets F; the lever 2 rod R; double crank arms Q. Q supported in the bracket q and the lever 0; all substantially as shown.

GEORGE E. FLEMING.

Witnesses:

O. E. BOTSFORD, JAMES J. KIRBY. 

